The project will create a structure with internal sensors that emulates the human nervous system and will be capable of capturing information from its environment.

The landing gear is a fundamental part of aircraft that serves as general support for the aircraft, allowing it to move on the surface, as well as cushioning, absorbing the impact generated by landing, and having the capacity for braking and steering. This fundamental system for aircraft is made up of the wheels, supports, shock absorbers, and the different equipment that an aircraft uses to manoeuvre.

It is essential that all components of the machine function correctly. Nowadays, the monitoring of these structures is done by controlling the external surfaces with which they are in contact. However, one of the main problems of landing gear is the internal micro-breaks, and their control can only be done before or after landing – through non-destructive techniques such as X-Ray, Thermography or, Ultrasound. But at the moment, there is no system that performs a real-time check of the internal parts of the landing gear at the moment of use. And this is where the INSENSE project, which brings together the knowledge in Additive Manufacturing of the Lortek technology Centre, the experience in developing fibre optic sensors of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) team, and the experience in testing components and materials for high-reliability applications of the engineering company Alter Technology, which will be responsible for validating the design of the prototype.